Update: There seem to be a lot of people with this problem at the moment, judging by the numbers arriving here from Google. So I've made a quick guide on how to fix the Unsupported Video Configuration Detected problem. Please go there for a solution, my original article (which is just a rant) follows.

I recently got a new Dell box at work. As I set it up, I realised that it was missing the cable required to connect the LCD's DVI input to the dual head graphics card.

"No problem", I thought, "I shall plug my trusty CRT into the VGA connector for the on-board graphics". Power on and... I get this...

System Halted! Error Unsupported Video Configuration Detected

System halted!
Attention: Unsupported Video Configuration Detected

Action is Required

This computer has an add-in graphics card, but the monitor is plugged
into the integrated video connector.
To attach the monitor cable to the add-in graphics card:

1. Shut down the computer
2. Plug the monitor cable into the add-in graphics card connector.
This may require a video adapter or video adapter cable.
(provided with the system)
3. Turn on the computer.

This message should not appear after completing these steps.
For more information or help, please refer to the system documentation.

This begs the question, do Dell support the Unsupported Video Configuration Detection? How many monitors have to be tested to ensure that this machine can display a message informing us that displaying stuff is not supported?

I'm glad Dell saw fit to spend money on this feature to protect their customers from themselves. Just imagine if the unsupported video configuration hadn't been detected, and my PC had been allowed to continue to boot. Then I might have been able to continue using the unsupported video configuration to actually do some work. Yikes! </sarcasm>